Friday, December 6, 2013

The Incident Part 2

Cocaine Princess here.

Being her next of kin I received a phone call that my sister's in the ER and that's all the person on the other end would tell me. I wasn't even told if she was alright or not and not knowing is a feeling I can't even begin to put into words.I arrived at the hospital and half of the stupid parking lot was closed because they were repaving the damn thing. A sign was posted informing visitors to use the parking lot that belonged to the retirement housing complex located around the block. So I drove around the block and there sat a security guard in a little booth. After explaining to him that I was a hospital visitor and not there to visit grandma and grandpa he took down my license plate and then granted me access by opening the gate. Although I tried remaining positive, from the moment I received the call, to the drive to the hospital and the retirement home and then walking to the hospital you wouldn't believe some of the horrible thoughts and images that kept running through my mind. I entered into the ER and sitting behind a desk was a woman wearing a green vest with a badge that read Volunteer. I informed her about the phone call and after checking on the computer she directed me down the hall into Room 4. I arrive at Room 4 and this is what I find.

I thought either my eyesight is terrible or the volunteer directed me to the wrong room because sister was definetly not in Room 4. I went to the nurses station where I was told the orderly had just wheeled her away to get her xrays taken. I was able to capture the moment.

A sigh of relief came over me when I got the details about why sister was in the ER. She was in the school parking lot getting ready to leave and come home from a staff meeting when she fell. She knew right away she had broken something on account of her hearing a cracking sound. Just writing that gives me goosebumps. Luckily nearby was another teacher who immediately came to her aid and called 911. I was relieved only because I thought something terrible had happened, not that what happened to her wasn't bad but compared to some of the awful things in my head it was as I already mentioned, a relief.

While waiting for sister I snapped another picture. There's the ER doctor and I realize this is off topic but do you see the curtains on the left side of the picture? My God, I couldn't get over how ugly they were. The picture doesn't pick up the colors properly but the colors were yellow and brown with grey huge polka dots. Sheesh, they really need to hire a better decorator.

At that point I was feeling anxious and bored. Our little hospital has one x-ray room and apparently there was a line up of people in wheelchairs with something either broken or fractured. For a small town there sure were a lot of people with injuries that night. An hour or so later sister was wheeled back into the room. The first thing she said was,

Hello darling, are you okay? I gave her a big hug while nodding yes and
then no. (That's how I was feeling)
Seriously, again? This is the second time she's injured her foot. The
last time this happened was back in2008. Wait, make that that three times. She also broke her toe.

I asked, "what happened? The nurse said you fell in the school parking lot."

SISTER: I tripped and lost my balance.

ME: You tripped and
you lost your balance? You're always telling me I need to stop running
around in my high heels before I break something and yet here you are
again in the ER with yet another foot injury.

SISTER: Yes, darling I see your point.ME: Are you in any pain?

SISTER: I was given Advil.

ME: Advil? That's it?

SISTER: Until they know for sure they can't really give me anything stronger.

Sister's foot and ankle was incredibly swollen and all purpley and blue. If that wasn't bad enough her toes weren't even polished. I made mention of it but for some reason sister didn't reply back. Waiting for the x-ray to arrive took f-o-r-e-v-e-r and sister was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. The nurse came in and helped her out of the wheelchair and into the bed so she would be more comfortable. Although she wouldn't admit to it, I could tell by the look on her face she was in pain. Finally, the ER doctor graced us with his presence.

DR: How are you doing?

I thought to myself, 'what a stupid question.' How are you doing? Oh, she's just great. In fact she's doing so great she decided to check herself into the ER! I should mind you I wasn't in the jolliest of moods that night.

The Doctor didn't sugarcoat anything and delivered the news straightforward. Sister had broken her right foot AND fractured her ankle. When it comes to foot injuries does she have the worst luck or what? We next had to wait for the orthopedic surgeon who had been called in from another hospital located about 30min. away. I joked with sister and said, "I wonder if the surgeon is cute like Charlie on Saving Hope?" He wasn't. He looked like he was ready to move into the retirement complex around the block. The orthopedic surgeon saw each patient one by one and in order of emergency. By the time it was sister's turn it was nearing 10:30pm. Similar to the first time he fitted her with an air cast and said it would take at least 8-10 weeks for her to be healed and then offered sister a prescription for Tylenol 3. Guess what? My stubborn sister flat out refused and said she didn't need it. I was so angry because I wanted her to say yes. I could have used it as a sleep aid! How inconsiderate of her. Yes, yes I know how wrong it is to say that but that stuff knocks you right out.After giving us a pamphlet on taking care of foot injuries sister was free to go. I wheeled her into the lobby and said I would be right back.

15 minutes later.

SISTER: What took you so long? I thought something had happened to you.

ME: I had to walk to that retirement complex around the block.

SISTER: Why?

ME: That's where I parked the car.

SISTER: You couldn't have used the one here?

ME: No, I decided to park there for fun.

****

So, it's been over a week since The Incident and sister's stubbornness continues. Before she left the hospital she was given crutches but she refuses to use them."Your foot is broken and your ankle is fractured, you need some type of assistance," I stated when I caught her using the walls for support.

SISTER: I'm fine.

ME: Really? Is that why you're using the walls? You're not fine, you need help. Just admit it. What's the big deal?

Once more sister refused to admit she needed help. Over and over she kept repeating, I'm fine, I don't need any help. I can manage on my own. Since I have a busy schedule and can't be with her at all times there's no way I was going to leave her alone in the house, so out of the generosity of my heart I hired a nurse to stay and help out. Unfortunately me delivering that particular news didn't sit too well with her.

To be continued.

****

My loyal and dear readers, it's finally Friday and let me tell you it's been one hell of a week having to deal with sister's stubbornness. It's exhausting and I'm worn out.

6 comments:

Hospitals are not a fun place. When you wrote of feeling that 'dread' at the hospital, I knew what you were talking about. When my sister died back in October, I was called to called to come to her house. I never saw her, but they had put her in the ambulance to get her to the ER.

I had that feeling... that she was already 'gone'... so it wasn't that much of a surprise when the doctor said she had died.

I'm glad it was only a broken foot. You mentioned how your sister is always giving you grief about your shoes, and how you are going to fall and hurt yourself.

I am curious as to what kind of shoes SHE was wearing when she fell!

Have a great weekend, sweetie. We are on the cusp of having an ice storm here in the Mississippi Delta.

Glad it was nothing worse than a broken foot. All credit to your sister for refusing Tylenol, you don't want to get addicted to that stuff. If she can handle the pain, good for her. A bit silly of her not to use crutches, though. Maybe you should have hired her a sedan with a couple of slaves too!

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